GearingUp For Fishing

When temperatures rise, it’s time to pull out your summer fishing gear—boat included! Madison Hedrick, lifelong fishing enthusiast, offers her suggestions for keeping snacks cool, people safe from an accidental fall into the water and skin protected from the sun. Plus, what’s the best device for putting out a fire or securing your boat to the dock? Read on to find out!

XPS® Deluxe Ripstop Fishing Life Vest

Arkansas requires one Personal Floatation Device (PFD) on board per boater, so having a life vest is a no-brainer. It goes up to size 4XL and has side-entry hand warmer pockets for cooler weather, and two zip pockets with mesh bottoms to allow you to keep your tools (or snacks) handy. $59.99

BOT ROP

Attach this device to your dock to allow you to moor your boat easily. The BOT ROP sits flush, eliminating any tripping hazards, and has a convenient retractable line inside that makes it easy to find any length of rope. $149.49 at www.boat-rope.com

Huk Kryptek Icon Long Sleeve Shirt

When you are out on the water, it is important to keep yourself protected from the elements, and in the summer, that means the Arkansas sun. This shirt includes UV protection and will have you feeling much cooler. It also has added stain-release properties to keep stains at bay as well as anti-microbial properties to keep you smelling better than what you catch. $49.95

Kiddie Mariner 10 Fire Extinguisher

In Arkansas, any boat with an inboard engine or permanently installed tanks for fuel needs to have a fire extinguisher. The Kiddie 10 will put out fires efficiently and is a class B, meaning it is USCG and DOT approved.$17.96

Yeti Tundra® 45-quart Cooler

This cooler is rotomolded and keeps the ambient temperature inside your cooler nice and low, even with a minimal amount of ice. If you care about performance, and if you’re willing to spend more for it, the Yeti Tundra is the cooler for you.$299.99